New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-11-07
ENHANCING THE ARTMUSEUM
A NEW BUILDING TO BE READY BY SPRING.

"A
DOUBLING THE FACILITIES FOR CARING FOR THE
pICH ART STORE ACCUMULATED.
With the completion Of the addition TO the Metropoi-
itan Museum of Art in Central Park the public Will
have On opportunity to judge for itself something OF the
character which the institution Will assume In tho
sou,.e OF It's development That the first structure,
familiar to the city i've years had ANYTHING In 1t OF
architectural beauty was never eontended by the
trustees the architects who supervised It, Continuous
criticism been levecd at the huge barnke edice OF
brick and stone which has been called the Art Museum
Of the metropolis Critics hive iuqr;red: What does
mean Why should anything pretending TO no AKIN !"
art hide itself In such ugly ptei
The trustees of the Museum have been as impertdrba
BILE under fire OF these criticisms az the brick walls
of the building. They have replied simply that home
was built in day, and then II further Information
were desired they would explain that this hrs structure
was nothing than the beginning. was not quit
with view OF architectural display. II was 10 ne uit'
,nately interior wing whose outward proportions
would be concealed from view. In building IL TWO
objects aimed at first to use 70 the best
the disposal. and next TO secure for Inc gar
cries which hold the pictures OF the Museum 'he
best possible light With this understanding any enor'
IN armament the exterior Of the building would have
boon waste OF money.
HOW THE NV BuILriNG WILL LOOK
The new building VIII present the frat completed Sec
ton Of Is to be tho southern facade ana 'he nam
eutra Museum. IL caps The odei ssruoturc Ko
the line of tho letter r. and with it tie available
spacc OF the Institution will I've more than doubled From
the Seventy nin:hst entrance to Central PARK proad
Rad will sweep with curve TO the entrance @. the
Museum, which will DO through aspacious porch ne
tween pillars OF polished granite. The building itse1
will he two tall stories In height above the basement the
roof being lust enough higher than the old wing to con-
cea II without interfering with the light IN tha part OF
tho building The front Will be more than 200 feet In
Twill "A
Indiana freestonc laid in massive blocks
The structure, like the preseLt building Will ne as
,ho,ouchv fire proof as 1t can made The walls
heavy as those OF the tall cebndines In the
lower palt the city. All the iron beams are hlcd with
troroof terra brick and the interior courts Will be
u.d with yellow brick soften and increase the light
From the basement covered arcEway has teen built to
tho roadway, and through this Will be received All coz
tribu,ons to the Museum. An elevator Will carry the
exhibits to higher floors from the basement LOT us
tributon IN the galleries TO which they are a'Scheu
The entire basement OF the old and the new structures
will 30 used as the workshops and storeroom OF Tic
Museum.
On the front at either size OF the entrance and halfway
uo the facade two enormous blocks OF the lndiara
m,;eIy thcsc blec,s will lie carved appropriately TO
Indicate the purpose for which the Museum exists one
WIN the derrick gave way. The stone fell 10 tao
gronni ana shattered into dozen pieces rms mas
i..veI the progress of the wOrs as another stone han
10 he cut and shipped for tie place and has Only Just
beer received The iron frame w2rk for the ss ioc
WORK can proceed during the winter Without resaFd 10
the weather.
WHAT THE EXTERIOR WORK HAS COST.
Tho huildng is under the supervision OF Mr. Weston,
WIN besides being the architect is OF the trustees OF
the MusenIn Its cost thus far has been more than
5000 OOO which the exterior structure only Inc
Interior fittings. the heating apparatus the cases etc.
will cost nearly as much by the time this new part
20 one, 10 the public, making the total cost OF the
for nv the city with issued under special Act Of
the Legislature.
The Museum OF Art. as thus completed. will he the
largest museum In this country, and the nearest aP
nroach TO the great museums OF Europe which America
possesses Its exhibits too have increasei even more
randy than tho space allotted for them. The fall exh-
hilton for 1897 which will be opened next month wi
present exceptionally rich colleslon OF modern arr
An tlis ia res aIled however simply as beginning OF
tnc institution which Its organizers nope VIII occupy ~
another century relatively the same position 70 Inc
country ant Will become one Of me great art centres am
art sch OILS of the world. The city deVotes 10 the
Museum large space Park giving ample room for
new bulGiags they are required ana pays Slo'oVo
al The CITY has contributed threequ.rers OF million
dollars to tho Museum OF Art
PROBABLY TO BE OPENED ON SUNDAY.
The Museum proper Is distinct organization, which
arranges with the city these and secures those ex
hints OF art which public enjoy In return for the
aid Of the city opens these exhibits free on all week
days except Monday and Tuesday The cost OF sustain
ing the Museum has been for several years nearly
$40 900 annually and the trustees AMI members OF inc
Museum Association make among themselves the
difference between what Is paid by tho city and the
actual cost. The exhibits which the Museum has now
secured In value $2O0o0O0 all OF which has come
fro private to tho Museum itself and not TO The
citv A permanent fund has also been established.
Amounting to 100000 for t1e purchase OF new WORKS
ard for tanning tne present Collection In addition
10 this General Ill Ccsnola tie director states that col
lrciicns aro9uuting IA value to SoOOooVo nave peeh
promised 10 TIE Museum In the near future
IL il expeciei by General di Cesnoia that thH new
lildiuq Will be formally opened At the exhibition next
so,ng N the money for finishing the interior Is
furnished In time and rark Department completes
ths work about the Museum entrance the building can
ne onenei then with It's completion the cost OF sustain
Ing Inc Museum will be Increased 10 about $4,000 per
wear and additional and Is expected from the cry Inc
Ene.,,on Of eo.piny the Museum sundays. which hss
been under discussion for more than year u 10 be-
isyad nv acme OF the trustees who favor that
Win be tetted curing the coming WINTER and visitors
VIII be admitted OH all days OF the week.